NASCAR heads to Daytona again for the Coke Zero 400. The race takes place on Saturday, July 2nd. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the 6 to 1 NASCAR betting favorite. His fellow Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson is the 9 to 1 second choice along with Denny Hamlin, who won the Daytona 500 in February. Keep reading for more information on Dale Jr. as well as info on my smart bet and longshot bet to win the Coke Zero 400.

A Closer Look At My NASCAR Coke Zero 400 Expert Picks

The Favorite To Win The NASCAR Coke Zero 400: Dale Earnhardt Jr. +600

He’s considered the best driver at the restrictor plate tracks. He’s won 10 races over restrictor plate tracks. 4 of those 10 wins were at Daytona. Plus, he won the Coke Zero 400 last year in 2015. Dale Jr’s a deserving favorite. But the odds are much too low for NASCAR bettors to bite. I know that I’m not going to. He’s won 1 race this year. That was the Can-Am Duel 1, which is meaningless to the Chase. I’m looking elsewhere.

The Smart Bet To Win The NASCAR Coke Zero 400: Kyle Busch +1200

Busch has been tearing it up at restrictor plate tracks this year. He finished third at the Daytona 500. He finished second at Talladega. He’s done an excellent job of staying out of wrecks this year as well. Kyle B. is ranked 1 in the Sprint Cup Standings. I think the odds are tremendous on a driver who figures to be close enough to the lead, if not on the lead, towards the final 20 laps at Daytona on July 2. I’ll take the 12 to 1 all day on Kyle.

The Longshot Bet To Win The NASCAR Coke Zero 400: Tony Stewart +2500

Tony Stewart won the Coke Zero 400 in 2005, 2006, 2009 and 2012. Stewart is a master at restrictor plate tracks. He also finally won a NASCAR race for the first time in a long time. This past weekend Stewart finished first at Sonoma. Does Tony have what it takes to make it 2 in a row? I’m not so sure that he does. But he’s hot right now. The first place came on the heels of a 7th place finish at Michigan the week before. At 25 to 1, I’m willing to take a shot on the great Tony Stewart.

The New York Mets will play in two games this week that are on my best MLB bets of the week pick list. On Wednesday, June 29, the Mets start Steven Matz against Washington’s Max Scherzer. Then, on Thursday the Mets send pitcher Jacob DeGrom to the mound to battle John Lackey and the Cubs. My final MLB free pick of the week has the Marlins taking on the Braves on Sunday, July 3.

A Closer Look At My MLB Free Picks June 28th to July 3rd

It should be some pitchers’ duel on Wednesday, June 29. The Mets’ Steven Matz is 7-3 with a 3.29 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. Matz has held Washington to a 1.60 ERA. But, Matz revealed this past week that he’s dealing with some soreness in his elbow.

Will that be enough for the Nationals to take advantage? I think so. I also love the fact that Max Scherzer steps to the mound for Washington Wednesday. Scherzer has held the Mets to a .226 batting average from 252 at bats. Washington all the way is my call.

The Mets are 0-4 in the last 4 games that Jacob DeGrom has started. DeGrom’s ERA isn’t that bad at 2.96. His WHIP is decent at 1.14. But, for some reason, the Mets don’t step it up when DeGrom takes the mound.

DeGrom has faced Cubs batters 39 times. Chicago has had his number. The Cubs bat .282 versus DeGrom. John Lackey can have a bad game on the mound once in a while but since the Cubs are far and away the best team in baseball, they should continue making things difficult for DeGrom.

Miami’s Adam Conley hasn’t been spectacular so far this MLB season. He has a 4-4 record. His ERA is 3.56. His WHIP is 1.33. Conley faces Atlanta on Sunday, July 3. He’s held the Braves to a .258 batting average.

Usually, that wouldn’t be good enough, but Atlanta starter Matt Wisler hasn’t been any better than Conley. He’s actually been worse. Wisler has a 4.22 ERA. More importantly, his record is 3-7. In 22 at bats versus Wisler, the Marlins have 8 hits. Wisler’s allowed Miami to bat .364. I don’t see that changing on Sunday.